MIP sponsors Quads4Quads charity ride

MIP, one of South Africa's leading software development companies, sponsored six entrants to the Quads4Quads charity ride that raised R1.1 million for the QuadPara Association of South Africa.

The fifth fundraising event of its kind, it is a 950km quad-cycle ride from Brakpan in Gauteng to Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal and back.

"It was amazing to see three quadriplegics ride the event on specially outfitted quad-bikes," says Mike Stolk, healthcare project manager at MIP. "There were two male riders and this year was the first time a woman quadriplegic completed the event."

The entry fee was R2 500, half of which went to the QuadPara Association. Many people donated money to the organisation and some enterprising children washed quad-cycles for cash which they donated.

MIP sponsored six entrants, their petrol, accommodation and shirts for the riders. There were also two backup vehicles.

Participants left Johannesburg on 25 September, arrived in Ballito on 28 September and returned to Johannesburg on 5 October.

"Our thanks to Linex Yamaha in Randburg who provided me with a Yahama Grizzly 450 for the event. It was an unbelievably fun experience," says Stolk. "It was different to anything I've done in the past and, since we only rode a few hundred metres on tar, we really got to see the countryside that you never even notice when you're driving past in a car even though there was an incredible amount of dust during the dry winter." Netcare 911 sent paramedics along for the ride, Polaris South Africa supplied backup quad-cycles and there were emergency helicopters and ambulances on standby along the entire route.